TopicUK January 2017 Leeds Edition

ISSUE 02 JANUARY 2017

Free business community magazine - distributed throughout our City

WWW.TOPICUK.CO.UK

CHRISTINE

TALBOT

Yorkshire’s Calendar Girl

LATE PAYERS!

A STRAIN ON SMALL BUSINESS PROJECTS RECEIVE

£50K GRANTS

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Thousands of charities and voluntary groups across the city work tirelessly to address inequalities and help their communities. Leeds Community Foundation invests in these groups to support Leeds, now and in the future.

With your support, The Leeds Fund will help to build a city of opportunity for all.

The Leeds Fund

www.theleedsfund.org.uk

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LeedsUpdate

Contents & Comments

Details in this month‘s TopicUK, your Local Business Community Magazine

P10 Expansion for Leeds courier

P15 Will 2017 be your year?

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P17 White Rose extention almost complete

P23 Leeds for culture capital?

P26 Late payers a strain on small business

P41 Crowne Plaza wins industry Awards

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Yorkshire’s favourite Calender girl

Projects receive £50k Grants

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• • • • • • 4

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Little girl with a big dream

Ghost publishing Limited also publish: TopicUK Wakefield & District; TopicUK Kirklees/Calderdale; TopicUK South Yorkshire; TopicUK Soho; Close Up for Business Wakefield Close Up for Business Kirklees/Calderdale.

Duo of awards for entrepreneur

Young people face employment barriers

Partners: •

Charlotte Sweeney Associates;

•

Garbutt + Elliott;

•

West Yorkshire Joint Services;

•

City Fibre; Susan Delanzo Ltd

•

Leeds Community Foundation;

•

Sync Media

January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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Editor’s Notes

TopicUK

Welcome to the second edition of TopicUK Leeds.

TopicUK is a free publication and available from a number of outlets across the city.

by Gill Laidler

F

or those who missed it, we had a wonderful welcome from local businesses when we launched our first Leeds edition in November. Taking place at The Tetley, we welcomed up to 70 guests on a wet and windy evening, for the unveiling of our first edition.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our early partners who have helped make TopicUK Leeds happen: Charlotte Sweeney Associates, Garbutt + Elliott, Sync Media, Leeds Community Foundation, City Fibre and West Yorkshire Join Services. In this, our second edition, we welcome Biscuit, Yorkshire Telecommunications and Susan Delanzo and Leeds Bradford Airport Advertising.

EDITOR GILL LAIDLER

CREATIVE DIRECTOR following: Information Technology; Legal Matters; Health & Beauty; Finance and the Arts. If you would like to write a regular bi-monthly column, do get in touch with me at: editor@topicuk.co.uk.

We are delighted to feature ITV Calendar’s Christine Talbot in this edition. I went along to Yorkshire Television Studios to meet Christine and what a delight it was. Christine is warm and friendly and our scheduled half hour chat, quickly turned into an hour and a half!

TopicUK is a community magazine and we encourage partnerships from all businesses. We work with our partners on every aspect of their promotion. It doesn’t stop with a printed advert, we support with social media, free space on our website, membership to our business club which gives offers and discounts from other businesses and discounts for our popular TopicTapas networking events.

You can catch a live interview with Christine on our new look website launched early this month. The site also features an interview with Jonathan Straight who featured in our first edition. Over the coming months we will be posting lots of news and information on the site and there is an area where you can also upload your own news and video. Advertising banners are also available if you would like to sponsor a particular section. Call me for details.

As we work with the community, we also want your contributions. Does your business have something to celebrate? Do you have something readers would be interested in hearing about? Are you expanding?

Do let us know.

TopicUK is distributed free across the city. If you would like to display copies in your reception, let us know, it’s a good way to attract people to your premises, as we are often asked where copies can be picked up from.

We are also looking for regular contributing editors for the

Gill Laidler Group Editor

ROB BLACKWELL

LOCAL HEROES EDITOR

EDITORIAL TRACY SHELDON

FOOD & RESTAURANT REVIEW TRACY SHELDON

BUSINESS GARY KING TENDO LIMITED

With special thanks to: Gary King; Ellie MacDonald, Christine Talbot

Printed By: Stephens & George Print Group, Goat Mill Road, Dowlais CF48 3TD.

For editorial and promotional enquiries call:

07711 539047 or email: editor@topicuk.co.uk The views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those held by the publishers and therefore, no responsibility can be held by the publisher for misinterpretation.

Reproduction of this magazine without the express permission of the publisher is prohibited. Whilst every care is taken in the production of this magazine, the publisher/editor and staff cannot accept any responsibility for errors in articles, advertisements or programme schedules. To subscribe contact 07711 539047 or email editor@topicuk.co.uk. Published by Ghost Publishing Limited, Suite 6, Unity Works, Westgate, Wakefield WF1 1EP. TopicUK is also not responsible for any advice given by contributors.

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LeedsUpdate

Projects to receive £50k grants Northern Gas Networks (NGN) has revealed the names of the projects that will receive grants from its £50,000 Community Promises Fund, created to support local communities across Yorkshire and the North of England.

partnered with Northern Gas Networks to distribute much needed funding across the North of England to alleviate fuel poverty, generate awareness and education surrounding energy efficiency.

NGN distributes gas to 2.7 million homes and businesses in the North East, Northern Cumbria and much of Yorkshire.

“A wide variety of innovative community initiatives and projects will benefit from Community Promises Fund grants, helping to make an immediate difference to local people’s lives during the cold winter months and gain learning for the future.”

The Community Promises Fund supports projects and initiatives helping to alleviate hardship and other challenges associated with fuel poverty, educate around environmental energy efficiency ideas, raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and encourage the study of STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) and related career opportunities.

The projects chosen to receive grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are: 2168 Yeadon Air Cadets, Bradford Community Broadcasting, DIAL (Leeds) Limited, Fusion Housing Kirklees Ltd, Highfield Food Co-op in Bradford, North Halifax Partnership, Syrian Community of Leeds, City of Hull & Humber Environment Forum, The Dominic Rodgers Trust in Huddersfield, Woodhouse Close Church

Community Centre in Bishop Auckland and Yorkshire Energy Doctor CIC, based in Riccall.

Leeds Community Foundation (LCF), a charity dedicated to creating positive change in local communities, will distribute the grants.

Speaking about the grants NGN’s Head of Social Strategy Tom Bell said: “The diversity of applications has been fantastic to see and while we can’t award money to all applicants, I’m very much looking forward to working with the successful organisations on their exciting projects. Those that haven’t been successful this time will be invited to a workshop where we hope to discuss with them how best we may work together in the future.”

LCF’s Sally-Anne Greenfield added: “It’s great to see companies playing an active role within their local communities and using their expertise to make a difference. We are delighted to have

Nicola Jeavons of National Energy Action continued: “NEA estimates that 4 million households in the UK are living in fuel poverty, unable to afford the energy they need to stay warm and healthy in their homes.

“Community groups and other local organisations play a vital role in helping to identify and assist those who are struggling to heat their homes affordably.

The Community Promises Fund will support third sector organisations and community groups to bring real change through local action. The calibre of applications received was at an extremely high standard.

“The 11 successful applications demonstrate a variety of innovative, sustainable initiatives which will help encourage behavioural changes through raising awareness of energy efficiency and will help to address the challenges associated with fuel poverty in their community. I would like to congratulate Northern Gas Networks and the Community Promises Fund winners for the excellent work they are undertaking to tackle this problem.”

The successful applicants are being invited to attend networking events in January where they will have the chance to meet with other organisations, share best practice and speak to the NGN team to get access to helpful tools and advice to support them with the delivery of their projects.

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January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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TopicUK family continues to grow November was a month of further growth for TopicUK with the launch of TopicTapas and TopicUK Leeds.

almost four years ago, so we can take care of this for you, affordably.

Our partnership base is growing and we have retained partners who joined us when we first launched, proving that the service we offer works.”

The first TopicTapas took place in November at The National Coal Mining Museum for England, and despite the horrible weather, 72 businesses joined us for delicious food and great networking.

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his follows hot on the heels of TopicTV and from January, readers and TopicUK followers will have access to our new website which will feature video, blogs and allow businesses to upload their own press releases and images.

The new site will feature interviews with business leaders, who appear in our magazines,” explained Group Editor and founder Gill Laidler “and similar promotional videos can be made for your own business, at very affordable costs, to appear not just on our website, but on your own and across social media.

“Video is very popular, so offering this service, alongside our printed magazine and of course with face to face networking at TopicTapas, we are in a position to take businesses and promote them at every possible opportunity.

“It is so important to keep your business visible so it can thrive and grow, but we appreciate this can be costly and takes a lot of time,” continued Gill. “This is why we launched TopicUK in Wakefield

Partnered with Barclays, Yorkshire Telecommunications and Williams & Co Solicitors, TopicTapas is non-profit and all proceeds from the event will be reserved and we are inviting businesses who attend all six planned events over the year, to apply for this pot of cash! If you missed the first one though, don’t worry, there’s still an opportunity to get your hands on the cash.

Email editor@topicuk.co.uk to reserve your place for the next one on 12th January.

November also saw the launch of a fourth magazine, this time in Leeds.

Many Leeds businesses joined us at The Tetley for the unveiling of the new edition whilst enjoying drinks and canapes and entertainment from live band, The Brand New Vinyls.

If you are interested in joining the TopicUK business community with prices starting from a little over £2 a day, do let us know. You would also become a member of our business club where you can enjoy further discounts and offers from other buisnesses in your area.

Make 2017 the year for you.

On the move Accountancy BDO is set to move to new offices in Leeds’ Central Square in Spring 2017 after ten years at Bridgewater Place.

BDO will join current tenants PwC, with accountancy practice RSM also moving into the building in mid-2017.

“We were looking for a space that would give us room for growth and that placed us at the centre of the Leeds business district,” said partner Terry Jones.

“Remaining within a few minutes walk of the station was a priority for us but we’re also mindful that the world of work is changing and digital connectivity for the team, clients and colleagues in the wider BDO network is essential.”

Sam Jones, Asset Manager at M&G Real Estate, owners of the site said: “Central Square has delivered much-needed office space to satisfy demand for high quality, well located accommodation in the heart of the business district of Leeds.”

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LeedsUpdate

Award-winning public affairs agency opens in Leeds The office, at Number 1 Aire Street, is Social Communications’ second new branch to open this year, following the launch of a London office in September. The move caps the end of a major year of growth for the agency, which was crowned the ‘Best Public Affairs Agency in the North and Scotland’ by PRMoment.com in April.

Public Affairs and PR agency Social Communications, has opened an office in Leeds to serve its growing list of clients.

The Leeds office will be headed by group director Pete Wrathmell, with support from group managing director John Quinton-Barber and newly appointed non-executive chairman, Gerald Jennings.

Founded in Manchester in 2013, Social Communications provides expertise in stakeholder engagement and planning consultation for clients in the housing, retail, energy and infrastructure sectors.

Mr Jennings is president of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce and has a number of other non-executive roles for Yorkshirebased institutions including Leeds City College and The Tetley. As a former Portfolio Director for Land Securities and Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Jennings has worked in the region’s property sector for over 30 years.

Supported by in-house property PR and creative teams, the company brings a new communications offer to the region – and it will be led by an experienced team.

John Quinton-Barber, group managing director said: “We’ve always worked with clients in Yorkshire and the opening of a Leeds office is an exciting, natural

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progression for our business. With the prospect of a Yorkshire devolution deal not too far away, now is the right time to set roots down in Leeds.”

Gerald Jennings said: “I have been working with the team at Social Communications for over 12 months in helping to bring a £50m investment to Leeds and the importance that communications plays in stakeholder relations and delivering new developments has become increasingly evident. It really is an exciting time for Social Communications to be opening in Yorkshire. With all that is happening in the region the team at Social Communications can play an important role in supporting and encouraging new investment.”

January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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New venue locks in 1,500 visitors in the first month A newcomer to the Leeds city centre entertainment scene has pulled in 1,519 visitors in its first month.

Great Escape Game Leeds is on track to hit its projected target of 50,000 visitors a year, say creators Hannah Duraid and Peter Lacole, who launched their first venture in Sheffield in 2014.

“Getting over 1,500 customers through the doors in our first weeks has proved our instincts and our research into the Leeds marketplace were correct,” said Hannah.

“We hit 27,000 visitors a year in Sheffield and we believed our target audience in Leeds was almost double that figure.”

Managing director Hannah has been mentored by the Leeds Entrepreneurial Spark hatchery,

part of the globally-run free growth accelerator programme.

Their concept, similar to that of popular TV game show Crystal Maze, fuses scenarios from horror movies and detective dramas with the challenges of live theatre and video games.

Growing PR firm appoints social media apprentice

“We have a class offering for Leeds.

Having studied games all over the UK, we believe we have created one of the most technologically advanced escape games in the country,” said Hannah, who discovered the exit room phenomenon when she and Peter travelled through Asia, where the concept originally evolved.

The Leeds venture has created 16 new jobs and another 24 could be employed as new rooms are added under ambitious expansion plans for the 6,000-sq.ft former office site.

Corporate team-bonding events are a growing business arm. Already the venue, at Atlas House in King Street, has drawn in staff from advertising agencies, the NHS, banks, lawyers and accountants from top city firms.

The young entrepreneurs are targeting the venue’s three fullyimmersive escape rooms at the office Christmas party market, by which time a bar created on the premises should have licensing approval.

MacComms has employed Leedsbased college graduate Amber Tennant as PR and social media apprentice to work alongside Managing Director, Ellie MacDonald and the growing team.

MacComms, established in April 2015, has made the appointment to support the growing business.

Amber has recently completed her A-Levels at Notre Dame acquiring a grade B in her media course. She is now working with MacComms alongside her studies with Etsio Training for a level 3 Diploma in digital marketing.

Amber joins the firm to manage social media, producing video and photography for the company’s clients, as well as supporting the public relations of the firm.

After her apprenticeship, Amber wants to remain with the company and build her knowledge and understanding of both digital marketing and PR. Ellie says: “I am delighted to have Amber join the team. She is positive and enthusiastic and therefore represents the strong brand values I want people to think of in MacComms.”

Amber comments: “I was initially asked to produce a video presentation on why I was suited to the role at MacComms. This made me extremely excited about the job as I love being creative and expressive.

I’m really enjoying putting forward my ideas and producing original and innovative content for social media, videography and photography, and I’m keen to learn more about PR too!”

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LeedsUpdate

Children at St Austin’s celebrate receiving Active Kids equipment Pupils and teachers from St Austin’s Primary Academy are celebrating after receiving their new equipment from the Sainsbury’s Active Kids programme. Colleagues from Sainsbury’s Wakefield Trinity Walk attended St Austin’s recently to present the new equipment from the 2016 voucher collection scheme.

The school has been registered to the scheme since 2005 and redeemed this year’s vouchers for sporting equipment to use in PE lessons.

Sainsbury’s customers collected vouchers in store between January and May, earning one voucher for every £10 spent in Supermarkets and online and one for every £5 spent in Convenience stores. The vouchers can then be redeemed by local schools, groups and clubs in exchange for a variety of equipment and experiences.

Almost 48,000 organisations are now registered and over £170 million worth of equipment and experiences have been donated since the launch of Sainsbury’s Active Kids in 2005.

Kevin Flood, Headteacher at St Austin’s

Pictured: Katie Hill, PR Ambassador Steve Scriven and customer Service manager Craig Watson join the kids at St Austin’s Primary Academy to celebrate the delivery of their Active Kids Equipment.

said: “Customers at Sainsburys Trinity Walk have been really supportive this year and it’s great that we’ve received so many vouchers.

“The scheme has helped us teach the benefits of a healthier more active lifestyle to hundreds of children over the past few years and we’re really looking forward to using the new equipment”.

Dee O’Brien, Store Manager added: “We really enjoyed spending time at St Austin’s Primary Academy and it was great to see

how the new equipment is going to benefit all of the children.

“Over the past 11 years our customers have played a massive part in ensuring we continue to encourage all children, regardless of ability, to lead healthier, more active lifestyles”.

The scheme has grown year on year and in 2014 Active Kids launched a cookery element to help children understand the importance of eating well and living healthier lifestyles.

Leeds courier set to expand A local courier company has joined forces with a national network to deliver an extended range of courier services in Leeds and the surrounding area.

Savage Logistics Ltd, based in Leeds will be opening its doors to new clients through its partnership with Diamond Logistics from 14th

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November. In doing so the business will be adding additional services to their already successful logistics business including provisions for same-day, overnight and international (Multi-Carrier Solutions) and remote and fulfillment storage solutions (Actual Warehouse).

Directors Mike Whitehead and

Donna Wright mentioned that the partnership provides the perfect next step for their business and expansion opportunities in Leeds. “We are so pleased to be joining the Diamond team and feel that this is a natural progression for our business. We are extremely excited to be able to offer our services to the businesses of Leeds”

January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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bills are expected to be around £440 lower in a modern one-bedroom ground floor flat, compared to its Victorian equivalent. And for a new build fourbedroom detached house, bills are estimated at £1,050 - saving £1,400 compared to those of a 19th century house.

Ross Clarkson, sales director of Bellway Yorkshire, said: “We’ve always believed that our new build homes would provide significant savings on fuel bills, but have never been in a position to make this claim. The NHBC has therefore done us and other homebuilders a favour by demonstrating without any doubt that a new home will save you money on fuel bills.”

Those quizzed by the NHBC also said they were drawn to the idea of buying a ‘blank-canvas’ ready to be personalised, rather than a home full of nasty surprises from previous owners’ DIY. They also commented positively on contemporary, flexible layouts and modern facilities of new homes such as new kitchens, bathrooms and appliances, all of which are covered by manufacturers’ warranties.

The report went on to outline the safety advantages of new homes, which were raised by some respondents. These include mains-powered smoke alarms, which come as standard on all Bellway homes, and the benefits of safety glazing, safer stairs and various other additional security features.

New homes mean less fuel Families living in new homes slash fuel bills by half says the Yorkshire division of national homebuilder, Bellway.

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new report from the NHBC Foundation shows that a new home built to the latest building regulations can cost half as much to heat as a Victorian house of the same size.

The advantages of new homes is based ona survey of 2,000 people who had recently moved into a new home and were asked what they considered the

advantages to be.

Many pointed to the energy efficiency benefits, including the better standards of insulation, enhanced draughtproofing and improved ‘airtightness’ that all help to lower household annual energy bills.

The report went on to show that energy

The advantages of new homes also are seen to extend beyond the front door, with many of the new homeowners surveyed saying that moving to a new development of like-minded people was also an attraction, especially as it provided the opportunity to make new friends and neighbours in a new community.

The full report can be downloaded at www.nhbcfoundation.org

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LeedsUpdate

Editor’s Draught adds style

Editors Draught © Victor DeJesus

With a cheeky nod back to the days when editor’s and hacks alike savoured a pint whilst scooping a story the newly refurbished Editor’s Draft on Wellington Street pays homage to the history of the area whilst adding a touch of urban style to the city.

A £500K investment has transformed the two-bar venue into a haven for beer aficionado’s and cocktail lovers alike and celebrated with a VIP reception showcasing samplers and entertainment in November. With choice clearly on the agenda, manager Wayne Ince invited twitter fans to tweet their favourite brew to @EditorsDraught for the opportunity for it to feature in the 8 craft and 6 cask ale range.

Whilst that might be a talking point, a tale or two will be told as taste buds delight savouring the likes of Ilkley, Titanic, Thornbridge & Brewdog, each offering a distinct taste. The new premium offer showcases chic cocktails with the perfect

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excuse to unwind at the weekend with 2-41 Saturday and Sunday. An extensive wine list and urban street food, add an array of hand-crafted pizza freshly made on site, and a recipe for success is made.

Breakfast debuts from 8am when the pub opens it’s doors to the public with fresh roast coffee served by Barista of the Year ‘Lily’ De Pietri, pimped up Eggs Benedict to bottomless brunch at the weekends accompanied by fizz or craft for an impressive £18. A host of treats throughout the week include burger and a drink on Monday; tasty tapas topping the list on Tuesday with 3 plates for £7; Wing Wednesday; Pizza Thursday and Fizz n Chips Friday. Roasts take centre stage on Sunday offering a range of quality cuts accompanied by the traditional Yorkshire puds and roasties.

Live music, quality quizzes and sport take turns to entertain, with acoustic tunes on Wednesday and Saturday, a teatime quiz on Thursday and BT and Sky Sports broadcasting the best in sporting

occasions throughout the week. Bookings make the occasion special, with table service an added treat.

Wayne, who has been running pubs in Leeds for the past 20 years said “Leeds is a city with a cocktail of culture, choice and great hospitality. The Editor’s Draught brings together the conviviality of the Loiners to locals, businesses and visitors alike. Our twist on trends enables us to offer great food and drink in a warm, welcoming, almost local pub environment where reading a book, talking to the team, savouring the music or taking in the sport with a pizza and pint makes for a memorable time.”

The pub opens 8am weekdays & 10am weekends, and closes 11pm with a midnight finish Friday/Saturday. The first floor bar is available for private hire, whether it be breakfast/business meetings, team building games sessions or a general party.

Editor’s Draught, 88 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4LT

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Digital motor firm wins young business award A start-up digital motor firm has been awarded a prestigious regional award.

The Car Buying Group, has been awarded Young Business of the Year at the Yorkshire Post’s Excellence in Business Awards.

The successful win sees the Wakefield and Bradford-based national firm recognised for their fast growth since forming the business just two years ago. The award ceremony was held at the Royal Armories in Leeds during November.

Now in its 11th year, the awards were

hosted by British journalist and former member of parliament, Michael Portillo and featured guest motivational speaker and ex-The Apprentice star, Katie BulmerCooke who set the room ablaze with her start-up story.

In the award spotlight, The Car Buying Group beat off competition from a record number of applicants and was acknowledged for his efforts in driving the fastest growing online car purchasing website in the UK. Founder of The Car Buying Group, Tom Marley says: “It is a fantastic achievement to be awarded the Young Business of the Year award by the Yorkshire Post.

The team and myself were delighted to recognized for all our hard work over the past two years, with the business rapidly expanding it is an honour to be highlypraised for our business achievements.”

Entrepreneur wins duo of awards A Leeds-based founder of a national conflict resolution and personal safety firm, has been presented with two awards by the biggest growth accelerator programme in the world.

Darren Good, founder of Leeds-based GoodSense Training, has been awarded £2,000 for his passion and dedication to growing his business on the Entrepreneurial Spark programme. The #GoDoAcceler8 award was presented at an evening ceremony in the Leeds Entrepreneurial Spark office.

Darren also picked up the Entrepreneurial Development Manager’s choice award for being a supportive entrepreneur in the Leeds base.

The #GoDoAcceler8 award seeks out

entrepreneurs who have gone the extra mile to ensure the continued growth and success of their business and were announced in front of more than 60 other business owners on the programme, mentors and representatives from partner firms with simultaneous events happening in all 16 hatcheries across the UK. Entrepreneurial Spark is funded by NatWest, KPMG and Dell EMC to support

start-up and scale-up businesses with high growth potential, and the awards follow successful entrepreneurs journey over the last 6-12 months.

Darren comments: “It is an amazing achievement to receive the Acceler8 award.

The company has grown enormously since we joined the Entrepreneurial Spark programme and so it is fitting to have been recognised for the hard work and business progression made over the past three months.”

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LeedsUpdate

New online platform supports interactive quizzes

Founded in 2016 by Mark Walsh CEO of Rocket Horse Ltd, the Kwizzbit platform and the technology behind the game are being developed into an interactive solution for other markets. Kwizzbit has already been trialled by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) as a learning development tool, endorsed

by Leeds MP Greg Mulholland, and has received interest from national giants including KPMG and Sky. Following his previous success with the successful pub game, Rock and Roll Bingo,

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Mark gained key insight into customer ďŹ ndings and feedback and used his learning experiences to develop Kwizzbit.

Kwizzbit has also been validated by business partners John Sheard and Steve Saul, who add their experience in quiz and business development, technical expertise and project management to the mix.

A multi-faceted online quiz platform, Kwizzbit provides a unique cloud-based solution which customers can access on their smart phones. Having attracted attention from a variety of sectors, Kwizzbit has ambitious plans to roll out the game through pubs and clubs across the UK.

Kwizzbit enables hosts and venues to deliver a unique interactive quiz through an internet browser and broadcast to people’s smartphones and tablets creating a game show format in a real-time quiz environment. Originally intended to transform the traditional pub quiz, Kwizzbit is currently being tried and tested with several pub chains and has already been part of a major industry showcase.

Currently based in Leeds, Kwizzbit is set to deliver interactivity for a variety of purposes including audience participation during conferences and events, as a learning tool for training and development and the next generation of interactive marketing.

January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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Will 2017 be your year?

Did you manage to switch off from work and spend quality time with friends and family over the Christmas and New Year break? Is 2017 finally going to be your year to deliver?

By Gary King Managing Director of Tendo

January is a great time to take stock, to reflect on your previous year’s results and then to look forward at what you wish to achieve and do differently.

If you didn’t get adequate time off or returned tired and stressed, ask yourself the following: • Are you clear how you performed and what you need to achieve each month in 2017?

• Do you have a clear strategy that will finally deliver the business that you desire?

• Do you have the right team around you to grow?

• Will you finally access the financial rewards and the lifestyle that you crave?

If you don’t have positive answers to these questions, the chances are you are not going to achieve your desired results and worse still, are at risk of future business failure if you cannot significantly reduce stress and improve your financial position.

There is a simple solution. January is a great month for starting to deliver the strategic plan you have in place. It’s also a perfect opportunity for catching up with clients to review and plan for the year ahead.

Having a dynamic growth strategy that makes you accountable and delivers your purpose is the key to getting started. More than 75% of SME business don’t have documented strategy, meaning they risk not achieving their desired results, or worse.

With around 600,000 new businesses started last year in the UK and statistics still showing that half of these will be dead in the water by 2021, having a strategy in place and hitting the ground running is imperative.

To quickly diagnose the important issues in your business and see instantly where to focus first, take Tendo’s five-minute business success test here http:// businessgrowthindicator.com/

Blue Logic win Sage 200 National Growth Partner of the Year Award Sage, the leading business software and services provider, have named Blue Logic as the winner of the prestigious Sage 200 National Growth Partner Award 2016.

‘‘It’s been a fantastic performance by the entire team at Blue Logic and we have experienced great successes over the last 12 months. We look forward to working together with Sage in the future and building upon this success.’’

The awards were held at a gala dinner at

As a leading Managed IT Services provider in the Yorkshire region, Blue Logic offer quality IT support and IT solutions, as well as specialising in business software including Sage.

The Sage in Gateshead and incorporated the Sage Partner Forum which gives Sage partners access to the latest Sage developments for 2017.

Speaking about winning the award, Mark Ambler, Managing Director at Blue Logic, said: ‘‘We are delighted to win this award and receive this recognition from Sage.

On presenting the award, Sage commented: ‘‘Blue Logic’s growth and innovation have helped them become our Sage 200 Growth Partner of the Year.

Congratulations and well done to the team!’’

The Sage Business Partner Awards recognise and reward leading business and developer partners that demonstrate a high increase in sales revenue and those who raise the benchmark in the software industry. The awards provide an important opportunity for Sage to recognise the work of its partners.

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LeedsUpdate

Cheers! Local MP welcomes back regulars The newly refurbished Commercial pub has reopened, welcoming back local dignitaries and loyal customers through the doors at its VIP launch event.

am delighted to be a part of. The pub benefits from a great location at the heart of the village and represents a quality community venue where customers can expect fantastic service, a revitalised food and drinks offer, alongside its already popular live sports and entertainment programme.

MP Andrea Jenkyns officially opened this popular pub with other guests, including the Mayor of Morley, Councillor Bob Gettings and Councillors Thomas Leadley and Lew Beever who had the opportunity to view the pub for the first time, following a £346,000 refurbishment by national pub operator Punch.

New publicans Mike Gorvin and Dara Scott welcomed customers old and new to view the refreshed look premises, where guests were given the chance to enjoy a

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drinks reception and menu sampling.

Internally, the pub has been remodelled and redecorated to create a more modern and sociable space in which to relax, including new furnishings and flooring. With sporting fixtures a key focus, televisions and a music system have been installed, whilst a gaming and entertainment area has been created. The external appearance of the pub has also be updated with new signage and lighting.

Commenting on the launch event, Mike said: “The investment marks a new era for The Commercial and one which we

“The turnout was fantastic and judging by the reaction of everyone who attended we got it spot on. It was great to see the pub buzzing with so many guests - we felt very honoured that they all came down to join in the celebrations.”

Sam Ward, openings manager for Punch concluded: “I would like to congratulate Mike, Dara and their team for all of their hard work which went into making the launch such a success.

“The Commercial is a fantastic example of a great British community pub and I am certain it will have a very successful future ahead.”

January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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Grants now available Applications are now open for Creative England’s Gameslab Leeds, a £1 million development programme where £300,000 in grants are available for studios and digital companies.

This is a new three-year development programme for games studios and digital companies in the Leeds City Region, with grants available up to 2019, alongside investments, workshops and networking events.

the European Regional Development Fund and supported by the Regional Growth Fund, is seeking applications for studios or digital companies that are developing something new and innovative – this could be new IP, new technology, developing on a new games engine, or new ways of players interacting with gaming.

Investments will be awarded to help businesses to scale up and increase the number of staff they employ; collaborate with research institutions and/or introduce new products to the market.

Creative England is also looking for four games companies in the Leeds City Region to take to the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, to give them the invaluable opportunity to meet with a host of publishers, platform holders and investors, at the world’s largest games industry event.

Rob Crossley, Creative England’s new head of games, launched the initiative at Game Republic’s developer day at Futurelab Leeds, sponsored by Creative England, where he outlined the opportunity for games developers and studios in the region.

Rob Crossley, comments: ‘We know the gaming and digital industry in Leeds has some incredible talents. We want to find, support and develop the most exciting, innovative and disruptive people and companies to drive the sector even further forward, putting Leeds’ gaming sector on a national and international platform.

Gameslab Leeds, which is supported by

‘Gameslab Leeds in an incredible

White Rose extension nears completion

A £13.7m extension to the White Rose Shopping Centre is near to completion following a topping out ceremony for the 65,000 sq ft development.

The extention will house an 11-screen cinema, six new restaurants including Wagamama, TGI Friday’s, Chiquito and Pizza Hut, event space and a children’s area.

This will provide 350 new full-time and part-time jobs to the area.

In addition, it was announced that the Centre will soon benefit from a rail connection to the city centre as part of

opportunity, assisting with the crucial finance, as well as development, as we’ll be offering SMEs masterclasses on identifying and exploiting IP, marketing and generating sales, access to finance investors publishers and distributors and much much more.’

Gameslab Leeds focuses on the Leeds LEP area which includes Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield and York. The programme is the third instalment of the programme, and follows hugely successful programmes in the West Midlands and South West of England.

Gameslab Leeds is the latest development programme from Creative England, furthering its mission to unlock the creative power of the country by investing in the creative industries in the regions.

To date, Creative England has invested over £3.2m in Games products and companies in England through schemes including Greenshoots, previous Gameslab programmes and match funding investments, with supported companies going on to work with gaming giants such as Microsoft and Sony.

Applications for Gameslab Leeds are now open, learn more at http:// creativeengland.co.uk/games/gameslableeds.

£270m transport plans.

Rob Jewell, portfolio director at Land Securities, commented: “The topping out ceremony marks the team’s achievement since breaking ground in April and is an important step towards completion in just over three-months’ time.

Peter Finegan, senior project manager at Morgan Sindall said: “We are very pleased to reach topping out on such an exciting project. Our work will leave a lasting legacy, providing a platform for retail and leisurefocused businesses to establish themselves in one of the Leeds’ most popular shopping destinations.”

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LeedsUpdate

Huge Success for Local Salon International’s executive director, Jayne Lewis-Orr. Leeds salon Russell Eaton had huge success on the night, scooping two awards. Robert Eaton and Karla AncliffSmith picked up the trophy for Afro Hairdresser of the Year, and Robert Eaton then returned to the stage to be named Schwarzkopf Professional British Colour Technician of the Year.

Hairdressers Journal International hosted its British Hairdressing Awards recently, with 1,700 of the country’s finest hairstylists gathering at London’s glamorous Grosvenor House Hotel.

This year’s ceremony was hosted by David Walliams, alongside Hairdressers Journal

Karla said: “It was totally unexpected to win this award. Being able to work together on a shoot and create a collection is amazing, everything from the styling to the makeup creates a beautiful shot so collaborating with true talent is amazing and all the work we all put in has paid off!”

Robert added: “Wow! To win two awards is incredible! This year is my 20th year in the industry and I would not be

where I am without the support I’ve had, especially when it came to creating these collections. It’s been all I’ve talked about for the past year!”

Now in their fourth decade, the awards, which are sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional, celebrate the very best in British hairdressing talent – an industry which contributes £7bn to the national economy and one which employs more than 300,000 people.

“Being right at the heart and soul of British Hairdressing is our privilege and pride. The British Hairdressing Awards means so much to our industry and winning one of these prestigious awards is the realisation of creativity, hard work and dedication, for that we at Schwarzkopf Professional congratulate them on their success,” Schwarzkopf Professional’s General Manager Stuart Hamid concluded.

New residential development sales team for Savills Savills has appointed a new head of residential development sales for the North of England.

Jamie Adam has joined the firm as an associate director to set up a new residential development sales team spanning the North West and Yorkshire, working from Savills offices in Leeds, York and Manchester.

Jamie, who specialises in development consultancy and the sale and marketing of new build property, has 15 years experience in the property industry both agency and client side, mainly focused in the development and new homes sectors.

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Prior to joining Savills, Jamie worked for Lane Fox followed by Jackson-Stops & Staff in Winchester where he was Head of Land & New Homes for six years. He then moved to York to take over the running of the Jackson-Stops residential sales office. Most recently, he has worked client side for a private equity backed property investment and development company.

Jamie comments: “I am thrilled to have joined Savills and relish the challenge of setting up a new department in the North.

With the northern powerhouse firmly on everyone’s radar, this is an exciting time to be joining the business.”

George Cardale, head of residential development sales adds: “We have been aware of the increasing need for a

residential development sales team in the north. Jamie’s experience combined with his knowledge of the area means that he is extremely well placed to develop and grow the business.

January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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Landmark building sold in £8m deal

FDYL merger sees finance specialist expand nationally FDYL has completed a joint venture agreement with Birmingham-based Woodrow Mercer to expand its financial leadership recruitment offering nationally as a division of £12m turnover Woodrow Mercer, which also has an office in London, has historically specialised in IT, public sector and e-learning recruitment, and has chosen to partner with Yorkshirebased FDYL to launch its new senior financial recruitment division.

With 30 years’ experience, FDYL has grown over recent years from providing portfolio FDs and FCs to become one of the North’s leading boutique search and selection consultancies for full-time interims and permanent placements.

FDYL will continue to run its own consultancy arm in support of Woodrow Mercer Finance, and the joint venture will see the firm expand immediately to operate offices in London and

Birmingham, as well as a 10-deskbase in Leeds city centre and its existing base in Sheffield.

Neil Muffitt, FDYL managing director, said: “The senior financial recruitment specialism is very attractive to the marketplace and with the national reach and network of existing client relationships, this joint venture makes perfect sense for both businesses.

We are able to retain the personal involvement and service that our very loyal client base in the North expects, but we will also gain resources and personnel to broaden our reach to cover the whole UK immediately. Overnight, we have gained access to the back office systems and economies of scale of a national recruiter.”

FDYL is a financial consultancy and recruitment specialist. Its head office will be at 36 Park Cross Street, in the centre of Leeds, where a team of seven staff will initially be based.

Prestigious Leeds office and retail complex The Bourse has been sold for £8m to Paloma Real Estate Fund.

The site, opposite the Trinity Leeds shopping centre just off of Boar Lane was sold by Yorkshire property developer and investor Opus North.

The building comprises 50,000 sq ft of high quality office and retail space across three buildings, overlooking a central courtyard. Its 20 tenants include William Hill, Evans Cycles and JLT. Each of the buildings, Equity House, Sterling House and Bond House, has its own designated entrance with a multi-storey car park to the rear.

Jack Pitman, founding partner of Paloma Capital, said: “Behind the beautiful, listed façade is a well laid out, modern building that should benefit from the significant capital investment that we are planning to make.”

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YorkshirePeople

Yorkshire’s favourite Calendar girl Christine Talbot is a familiar face to many, gracing our screens at 6pm every weeknight, as main news presenter and anchor, alongside Duncan Wood, on ITV’s Calendar.

Gill Laidler EditorTopicUK

C

hristine took the time out of her busy schedule to have coffee with TopicUK Group Editor Gill Laidler, telling us about her career and growing up in her native Lancashire.

Journalism was in Christine’s blood from a very young age. The first newspaper she worked on was a family newspaper that she created with her sister, reporting on anything that was going on in their family life!

After qualifying as a journalist at the Lancashire Polytechnic School of Journalism in 1985, Christine worked for both the Southport Visitor FACT FILE: and the Lancashire Evening Post, before moving into TV journalism, Favourite holiday where she began working for destination: Australia. BBC North West on their Tonight programme. “I started helping out behind the scenes at first, before Favourite Car: moving onto reporting live.”

Range Rover Evoke Favourite Restaurant: Fifty Fifty in Boston Spa. Favourite food and drink: Italian and white wine.

Favourite gadget: Floor steam cleaner!

However, it wasn’t long before Christine, who lives in Wetherby with her husband Chris Gregg and daughter Beth, moved to ITV in 1994 , first presenting the Tonight show for four years and a programme called Wellbeing. At the same time, Christine worked as a reporter for Calendar before becoming their main presenter alongside Duncan Wood. Twenty two years later, she is a familiar face most evenings on our screens.

Working on live TV is unpredictable and Christine admits to still being a little nervous before big interviews. “We don’t always have an autocue, especially whilst interviewing away from the studio

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and if its a big story or a famous person, such as the prime minister,” who she has interviewed many times, “the nerves do still kick in!” she explained.

So who have been Christine’s favourite people to interview? “There have been many over the years, but I think two people who stand out for me, as being both lovely genuine people and very professional has to be Cliff Richard and Lulu. The more famous a person is, the nicer they seem to be.

Following the story of fundraiser Jane Tomlinson has also been memorable for me and before her passing, we did become good friends. What she achieved was amazing and an inspiration to us all.”

So what is a typical day for Christine, who has a daughter Beth 18 and a stepson in his 30s, who actually appeared on Calendar at just 4 weeks old, dressed as a Santa!? “I usually arrive a the studio around 11am where there will be a number of meetings, before I prepare for the lunchtime news and any pre-recordings, from around the region,” she explained. “After lunch, I will be involved in writing links before preparing for the main Calendar News at 6pm. The days can be very long, particularly if I am presenting the late news bulletin too, but generally I will be home by 8pm to spend time with my family.”

Outside work, Christine, who has twice been nominated for the Royal Television Society Best Presenter Award in Yorkshire and winner of RTS TV Reporter 2016 and O2 Broadcast Presenter 2015 and O2 TV Journalist 2016, as well as Yorkshire Choice Media Personality 2015, is quite the outdoor type, enjoying sport, walking, particularly in the Dales and generally enjoying the fresh air. Spending time with her family is also important.

January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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Advertorial

If video killed the radio star, virtual reality may well kill the video star Yorkshireproperty360 is a new business launched to bring virtual reality to the mass market, it offers virtual tours to estate agents and commercial properties such as hotels, resorts, schools and industry.

Alan Tisch EditorTopicUK

Imagine being able to walk around a hotel in Florida from the comfort of your own home, or look around that property you are interested in buying without having to contact the estate agents to arrange a viewing. This is no longer science fiction but readily available right now and the real beauty is we already have the technology to do this in the palm of our hands.

All you need to do to experience virtual reality is a pair of VR goggles, such as the entry level - Google cardboard, that you can buy for a few pounds.

There is a slot in the front to put your mobile and away you go.

Start bringing your images to life and maximise your impact so customers engage with your website and enjoy the experience so much more that they come back or tell their friends or their network.

The digital market place is highly competitive and statistics state you have less than 5 seconds to grab the interest of a viewer on your website and encourage further interaction. Our virtual tours maximize this crucial time, create massive visual impact, immediately showcase your space and encourage interest and action.

Alan Tisch, Managing Director of Yorkshire Property 360, said “having been in video production my entire working life I have already witnesses a revolution in how video is made, distributed and consumed. The next revolution is here and it is virtual reality.

The Stats Speak for themselves

A site with a 360-virtual tour and interactive media will receive 40% more views than a competitor’s site that is lacking media. (Pew Internet Life Study)

80% of Internet shoppers say images are imperative when deciding to buy or use a company’s products or services. (Pew Internet Life Study)

360 Virtual tours reduce the number of wasted viewings by 40%. (Source: Property Week)

Properties complete with virtual tours are, on average, clicked 10 times more than those that do not offer the service.

(Source: Property Week)

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A 360 degree panoramic interactive virtual tour great enhances location exposure and product understanding and it improves marketing through visualisation.

Virtual Reality gives marketers the opportunity to give their audience the closest experience they can get from a product, service or place without physically being there.

“We want to stay ahead of the curve by offering the market an affordable and ground-breaking product to keep businesses ahead of their competition.”

With Every Bespoke 360° Virtual Tour includes facebook integration, pop up information banners, 3D floor plans, social media links, google maps integration, voice over track and so much more.

All white labelled and ready to embed on your existing web presence.

For more information please contact: info@yorkshireproperty360.co.uk W: www.yorkshireproperty360.co.uk T: 0113 3200 699 M: 0797 336 8058

January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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Barclays Banking Advice for Business

It’s all in the plan according to Keith Waddington, Barclays Business Manager The critical success of a new venture emerges from the ability to respond to the continuous changes of the market and economy, and anticipating the effects of the social environment.

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or anyone considering starting a new venture – either as a means of expanding their existing business or as a way of establishing a new business – effective planning, particularly financial planning, is crucial to long term success.

The prime objective of a business is survival, enabled by sustainable profits.

Leeds bid for 2023 European Capital of Culture Leeds is to launch an official bid to be named European Capital of Culture 2023.

A Business Plan will help you collate and clarify your business ideas, plan for the future of your business, and will help to show whether your idea is realistic and workable. A good small business plan defines exactly what you want to achieve and how you plan to achieve it.

Demonstrate as much knowledge about who will be buying from you.

Your Business Plan will play a key role in attracting funding to get your business started, so you should make sure you have one prepared before applying for lending.

should act as a blueprint for a business.

If properly constructed, the plan will establish business objectives, and through regular reviews, allows you to assess the current state of the business and provide an early warning of potential problems.

Whilst preparing a business plan may seem a daunting task, small business owners should remember that outside help is available from banks, accountants and local business support organisations.

Business and marketing plans are documents that should continuously evolve, reflecting both the long and short-term goals of the business. Banks are there to provide guidance and ideas on what type of finance might best suit a business’ future plans. Barclays is committed to supporting new and aspiring businesses in the UK, especially those with real potential to grow through responsible lending.

Business planning is not just about preparing for growth and expansion or making a case to borrow money - it is an essential management tool and The United Kingdom has previously hosted the European Capital of Culture, first in Glasgow in 1990 and Liverpool 2008.

Increased investment, jobs and a boost to the local economy are all considered benefits of hosting the year-long event.

Leeds City Council has confirmed it will be in the running, with leader Judith Blake stating that Leeds ‘has been ready to bid since 2014’.

“In Leeds we believe in a future where our culture in all its forms, is valued and experienced by the broadest set of people, and for it to be central to the city’s identity and to its future - both economically and socially,” she added.

“Communities, business and all of the

city’s higher and further education providers came together with Leeds City Council over the last three years to invest significant time and resources in the anticipated bidding process.

“The announcement is recognition of the ambition and commitment shown by Leeds, and cities like ours, in leading with culture across our communities.”

Culture secretary Karen Bradley said: “The UK is leaving the European Union, but we are not leaving Europe. We want that relationship to reflect the kind of mature, cooperative relationship that close friends and allies enjoy.”

The winning UK city will be announced by the end of 2018.

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Insight

Leeds Employability Partnership Breaking down barriers to help local people become ‘work-ready’ A new pilot managed by Leeds Community Foundation aims to support individuals with multiple barriers to employment, moving them closer to being ‘work ready’.

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fficially launching in Spring 2017, the Leeds Employability Partnership is appealing to employers across the city to join current partners – Hammerson, NatWest and Trinity Leeds.

Almost 60,000 adults of working age in Leeds are unemployed or economically inactive (e.g. long term sick or looking after family) but want to work. Despite the many effective employment initiatives under-taken by public and private sectors, there is still a significant group of people who need help to gain employment. This support is especially needed for those furthest from the labour market.

Research has shown that some people with learning or physical disabilities, mental health support needs, a criminal record, or lack of a credible employment history face significant barriers that prevent individuals getting onto the first step of the employment ladder.

The Leeds Employability Partnership is the first of its kind in the City and has the potential to support the Leeds Enterprise Partnership’s ambitions for employment and skills, and give employers a real opportunity to build local expertise through working with the third sector.

A key part of the Employability Partnership is the Employability Fund, a central pot of funding available to community initiatives delivering

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services and/or training and support to people who need support to get into employment. The Fund distributed the first tranche of grants in December to seven innovative projects which will support a range of people: Aspiedent - support and help build a programme of social skills training for adults with autism Catch Unlimited - provide preemployability support and develop new skills and outlook for 70+ adults, using converted buses and canal boats Dial (Leeds) Ltd - offer targeted support for people with disabilities Home-Start Leeds - work with 125 parents, mainly women, to support return to work for those lacking in

confidence and experience Lighthouse Futures Trust - create realistic job opportunities for students on the autism spectrum Path Yorkshire - develop a ‘human library’ of experience to allow 25+ individuals to call upon human ‘books’ for practical support Voluntary Action Leeds - establish micro-volunteering opportunities for 50 young people (NEET) with accredited digital City & Guilds badges to evidence employment skills from volunteering Kate Hainsworth, Development Director of Leeds Community Foundation, who is leading the Employability Partnership said, “We are delighted that we have been able to fund seven fantastic projects

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that will be a valuable asset to the city.

The Employability Fund received a staggering £200,000+ worth of strong applications from third sector projects, but unfortunately we are currently not able to support them all.”

Kate added, “To deliver a more meaningful pilot for the city, we are appealing to employers to join the Partnership to fund more projects and offer practical support – such as help with CV writing, interview practice, or a chance to experience the work environment.

Supporting the pilot will help people to build skills and confidence and, even though we are not expecting that everyone will get jobs, it will enable people to move closer to being ‘work ready’. Through the Partnership, we hope to support a cohort of 100 - 200 individuals to enhance their employability prospects and build tangible outcomes, which will help implement a longer term employability strategy for Leeds.”

Employability Fund Partner, James Bailey of Hammerson, Victoria Leeds, said, “We are delighted be involved with this Partnership and hope other employers will join us. Employment is the cornerstone of stability in our lives. It’s not just about giving one person a wellpaid, rewarding job; it’s about investing in local families and communities and, in many instances, is life-changing.”

David Maddison of Trinity Leeds, also supporting the Partnership, said, “Leeds has a strong economy while being a compassionate city – by helping those furthest from the labour market we help everyone else along the way.”

For more details on how to get involved with the Leeds Employability Partnership, visit: www.leedscf.org.uk/ employabilitypartnership/ or contact Kate Hainsworth by phone on 0113 242 2426.

Cocktail firm makes trio of new appointments A Leeds-based national cocktail firm has appointed three new staff members to support the rapid growth of the business.

Zest Mixology has employed Jack Bennett and Timmy Wright as event specialists and Emily Ratcliffe as an event administrator to work alongside Managing Director, Murdo MacLeod and the growing team.

Timmy Wright has more than 10 years of industry experience and with bartending experience and experience gained from supporting a family business, Jack has a strong events background and focuses on the operations and logistics within Zest Mixology.

Jack says: “The working relationship between myself, Timmy and Murdo is really good, we’re different from one another but work well together. That’s what makes it special, we are always at

the heart of the event and know each and every event inside and out.”

Currently studying Events Management at Leeds Beckett University, Emily joins the team as an events administrator.

With five years of industry experience, Emily’s passion for events will allow her to support Zest Mixology. She says: “Zest caters for everything, there’s not a pop up bar or event furniture brief we’ve not managed to fit yet. It’s great to be part of a young and fun vibrant team.”

Founder and managing director of the firm, Murdo MacLeod adds: “It is an exciting time for Zest Mixology. The new appointments have been made to support our continuous growth and we firmly believe 2017 to be our biggest year yet!”

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LeedsUpdate

Late payers a strain on small businesses It is reported that up to 62 percent of invoices sent to customers from small businesses are paid late.

This puts a serious strain on those small companies, so is it time to take action?

A report by peer-to-peer business lender MarketInvoice shows that the UK is one of the worst major economies for not paying on time and this situation is getting worse!

So what can we do about it?

One local business, TaxAssist Accountants in Wakefield have been looking at practical ways to help their small clients. This has included the introduction of Intuit QuickBooks, the world’s number one online accountant software that lets users send invoices in minutes and get paid two days faster. “Clients using the accounting software are telling us that it is not only reducing the time it takes to create invoices and manage cashflow,” said owner Zahi Khan, “it is also speeding up payments.” But can more be done?

Thirty days seems to be the normal amount of time given for customers to pay invoices, but many are taking 60 and even 90 days to settle their accounts. If you’re business pays invoices on 30 days and your clients are not paying you for much longer, this is seriously going to affect your cashflow and chances of survival.

Why do we allow this credit in

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the first place? If you go into a supermarket and do your weekly shop, you wouldn’t ask them to send you an invoice to pay 30 days later would you? Similarly, when buying clothes in a store or electrical goods, you pay cash before being allowed to take the goods away, why can’t we as small businesses adopt the same principal?

It seems that the larger businesses are the ones who hold up payments and small businesses are afraid to complain in case they lose that valuable client. But is this really cost effective, would you be better off without that account?

“Following the Brexit result, surely we should all be pulling together and helping one another. As many of our readers know, we are huge supporters of local business and community working, so we should be pulling together and paying our bills on time, this will help ensure that we all thrive and survive,” said TopicUK editor Gill Laidler. “We can only do this if everyone does the same!

“Here at TopicUK we don’t have the answer, but perhaps you do?” continued Gill. “We would like readers to share their experiences with us of how, if you have, overcome this problem and found a way to encourage your clients to pay on time. We will share with our readers any responses that we receive, with the hope of helping local small businesses overcome this serious problem.”

Is what you’re eating really Halal?

The Halal meat market is constantly growing with more than £2 billion being spent on Halal meat annually in the UK, but can consumers be sure that what they are eating is really Halal?

With the growth in the Halal meat market also comes the increasing demand for Halal certifications. The driving force behind this is not clear however recent news stories on food adulteration are likely to be a contributing factor.

Routine sampling carried out by West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service has shown that a significant number of samples sold contain meat species other than those declared. The mislabelling of products has serious implications from a safety and ethical perspective and consumers need to be able to trust their suppliers that what they are selling is what it is claimed to be.

To certify that a product can be classed as Halal, it must be free from non-permitted ingredients such as swine meat, its by-products and alcohol. Their presence is a major concern to British Muslim consumers.

It is not always safe to assume that a prepacked food or drink is free from alcohol. Many products can contain alcohol through natural fermentation of the product and some products will use alcohol as a carrier for permitted additives.

West Yorkshire Analytical Services is able to offer Halal testing using state of the art equipment and in-house expert advice. Our respect for religious requirements is paramount throughout our service.

If you have any specific questions about Halal testing, please email us on analyst@wyjs.org.uk or telephone the Laboratory Manager Martin Bowden (0113 393 9712) or Public Analyst Duncan Campbell (0113 393 9710).

January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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Entrepreneurs are evolving with technology

technology to move quickly and secure business opportunities. They demand flexibility in their working lives. This is the new enterprise culture.

By Natalie Sykes, Regional Director, Institute of Directors

The IoD has been supporting professional leaders since 1903 but we recognise that our members are changing.

For this reason, I was pleased to hear the Chancellor set aside £1bn of investment for digital infrastructure in last month’s Autumn Statement.

Yorkshire stands at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), where the boundaries of physical and digital are blurring as we integrate methods of production with technology to enhance productivity.

Technology is evolving at pace and the way we work is changing. Barely a day passes without Facebook, Uber or Apple appearing in the news headlines.

This can be seen in the growth of the region’s fintech sector and the collaborative strides being made in healthcare innovation. It is encouraging to see the Chancellor supporting businesses to keep the UK at the forefront of the digital revolution.

Today’s young entrepreneurs and startup businesses work smart. They use

That’s why we introduced a student membership scheme alongside our 99 Club for young entrepreneurs, which costs just £99 for a wide ranging package of business support, learning and networking.

If you know anyone under the age of 40 who is thinking of making the brave move into business or has been in business for up to five years, membership of our 99 Club is perfect.

We are also poised to roll out IoD Advance across the north of England. This will be the biggest shake-up to our membership offer in more than 40 years.

Watch this space!

Meeting rooms, conference rooms, event and office space Whether you’re looking for a large meeting room to seat 30, a smaller informal meeting space for two or simply an office to work from - head to West Yorkshire Business Hive.

Situated in Morley, Leeds we are close to all major motorways with free on-site parking.

Free Wi-Fi

We’d love to hear from you Contact us for more info, or to make a booking.

T: 0113 2530 241 E: WYbusinesshive@wyjs.org.uk Nepshaw Lane South, Morley, Leeds, LS27 7JQ www.WYbusinesshive.wyjs.org.uk @WYBusinessHive

WYBusinessHive

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We offer complimentary Wi-Fi, Plug & Play interactive whiteboard technology and fully interactive audio-conferencing facilities.

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LeedsUpdate

A little girl

with a big dream...

Carnival Ballet

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Sharon Watson is a petite woman with an ability to light up the room with her passion for creative dance and developing young people in the arts; I asked her how it all began and where that spark came from?

Tracy Sheldon “I was so young when it just hit me, my sister went to dance class at Harehills Middle School; as part of the school curriculum. After sharing her experience with me I was intrigued, impatient and excited; it triggered something in me, something I wanted to experience for myself. I joined her and boom, that was it. I just knew what I wanted to be.”

Sharon came from a loving supportive family where you could truly be what you wanted to be; she was number 7 out of eight children so you had to create a voice to be heard in all the hustle bustle of a busy family, and Sharon’s voice was her creativity and her dance. If friends danced around the room Sharon would create a stage on the window sill, it was in the stars that this young lady would be on the real stage one day.

Many years later Sharon read that this position in families produces certain characteristics in individuals- certainly beginning to recognise those traits now!

To build a successful career in dance is certainly not an easy career path, your body is your toolbox and your physicality and creativity your outlet. It takes desire, passion and sheer hard work to be the top of your game 24/7.

The path was set at age 9 and years of hard work, time management, great mentors and teachers helped Sharon become the woman she is today.

The family support of all been proud of each other and an early ‘can do’ attitude was reenforced by superb dance teacher Dawn Holgate who encouraged, taught and focussed Sharon’s passion for dance into a place at the London School of Contemporary Dance.

The path to Phoenix Dance was not a lineal one, Sharon was initially the first premier female in 1989 but left to undertake a degree,

then off to Jamaica and back to do a five-year stint at Northern dance under Nadine Senior before returning to Phoenix Dance.

Phoenix Dance Theatre is the UK’s longest standing contemporary dance company outside of London. It celebrates 35 years in 2016 and has grown to be a key Northern Contemporary dance front runner. It’s permanent company of professional dancers share an innovative range of dance and choreographers in the UK and internationally.

What fires Sharon now is the ability to share and educate. Phoenix has an established dance education programme and accredited dance training for all education sectors, communities and abilities.

As artistic Director and choreographer Sharon leads from the front, supported by a fantastic board and a proactive and enthusiastic team, something Sharon cannot praise enough. For a woman to win the 2016 Sue Ryder Yorkshire Woman of Achievement award, be named one of the Cultural If friends danced around the Leadership Programme’s room Sharon would create a stage Women to Watch, a list of 50 on the window sill, it was in the influential women working in stars that this young lady would arts and culture in the UK she be on the real stage one day. is a remarkably humble and measured woman – years of dance training have given her an ability for clarity and focus which she uses to drive forward and succeed.

She has most recently been appointed as independent chair of the steering committee, bidding for European Capital of Culture Leeds 2023.

So what next for Sharon? who knows, but whatever it is, it will be innovative, exciting, educational and diverse and will bring a passion for creativity and dance to many young and old.

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Garbutt Elliott Accounting Auditing Business Advice Tax Planning Finance Raising

Accounting + Great Ideas For more information, please get in touch: hello@garbutt-elliott.co.uk

York: 01904 464 100 Leeds: 01132 739600 www.garbutt-elliott.co.uk @Garbutt_Elliott

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Christmas marketing: what did consumers respond to?

For many businesses, Christmas is the busiest, most competitive time of year. And for the marketing professionals who work with or for those businesses, it’s a time to stand out.

In a poll carried out with 70 members of the Leeds public, the majority said they prefer a funny Christmas advertising campaign such as the 2016 John Lewis advert, with emotional campaigns coming a close second.

After speaking to a number of these people, it quickly became clear how much Christmas means to people.

Michael and Sheila, 51 and 53, said they enjoy the campaigns that tell a story, for example the 2014 Sainsbury’s advert which recreated one of the most famous moments in WWI. Sheila says, “It reminds us there is more to Christmas than presents and food. It’s about being together. For that reason, I respect Sainsbury’s decision to shine the light on a moment in history rather than some special offers.”

Joe, 28 says his favourite Christmas

campaign is Air Canada’s 2014 ‘Home For The Holidays’ campaign. This involved Air Canada surprising 200 Canadians in London with tickets home for Christmas.

Joe says, “I like when companies work with real people to create something meaningful. Although they’re doing it for profit, it also shows they care about people … and this campaign in particular is relatable for so many.”

There is also plenty of research to show exactly how much the festive time of year means to people. In a survey conducted by digital media platform, Xaxis, findings showed out of seven categories of Christmas shoppers, only digitally savvy family and thrifty shoppers has a higher percentage of people buying gifts online.

The other five categories still had an average of 76.6% of people searching the

decked halls of high-street shops for gifts.

The research also showed that most shoppers spend their money in November and December, with digitally savvy families and Christmas Fanatics spending 70% of their budget in November.

But as with the times, Marketing must adjust. Last January, for example, John Lewis announced even in a “challenging market” they sent out 18% more parcels on Black Friday and saw a 4.1% increase in overall sales after targeting online sales more than ever.

For so many of us, Christmas is a time for tradition. But one group of people who should work to stay away from tradition is the marketing teams. Instead, much like we do with a good Christmas Dinner, it’s the creativity and originality we should indulge ourselves in in order to increase revenue, brand awareness and most importantly, connect with our consumers.

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LeedsUpdate

Victoria Leeds celebrates one millionth shopper Victoria Leeds has welcomed one million shopper visits since the opening of the long-awaited Victoria Gate, the new £165 million retail and dining destination.

Shoppers have been attracted from across the region, looking to experience the 130 premium retailers open at Victoria Leeds, which incorporates the historic Victoria Quarter.

Retailers including COS and Aspinal have already announced their strongest store openings ever, with existing brands including Louis Vuitton also experiencing strong performance, as shoppers return to the city to indulge in Victoria Leeds’ exceptional offer.

The Victoria Leeds Plus App has reached 8,000 shopper downloads and retailers have also seen a variety of successes since the launch of the development, including: · The White Company achieved over 3,000 transactions in the first week, with over a third of those being winter candles

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·

In the first four days of opening, over 120,000 tea samples were handed out in true Yorkshire style by T2

·

Over 1,000 pairs of shoes have been tried on in Russell & Bromley since opening

·

Chocolate lovers have spoiled themselves in Charbonnel et Walker with over 3,000 truffles sold in a fortnight

·

Lifestyle wellbeing brand, Neom Organics has uncovered that the most common wellbeing need in Leeds is a better night’s sleep, after more than 4,000 people took the brand’s in-store scent discovery test.

The arcades have also attracted Team

GB Olympians, gymnast Nile Wilson and race walker Tom Bosworth through its doors, as well as Paris Hilton’s British Best Friend, Chrissie Wunna.

James Bailey, General Manager, said: “We’re delighted to have welcomed so many new and existing shoppers to Victoria Leeds. Victoria Quarter has always been a fantastic shopping destination for the North and with the addition of Victoria Gate, the appeal is broader than ever before. People are flocking in from the local area and beyond and the feedback has been incredibly positive. Our one millionth shopper visit is a huge milestone for us and hopefully will be the first of many.”

Victoria Gate has brought in a flagship John Lewis, the biggest outside of London, together with Nespresso, Hackett, Tommy Hilfiger, CAU, Aspinal of London, & Other Stories, COS, Le Pain Quotidien and Anthropologie, joining with the iconic Victoria Quarter.

With 77% of the new line-up debuting in Leeds and 33% of the brands being new to Hammerson’s retail portfolio, it’s an international vote of confidence for Leeds.

January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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I d L R C t

Teenagers with an interest in engineering, science and technology will be able to test their robot programming skills and try out virtual welding when UTC Leeds opens its doors to potential new students in January.

The school, which opened in September and focuses on high-tech engineering and advanced manufacturing, is holding two open evenings for future students and their families.

Young people will be able to test some of the high-tech equipment used in lessons and projects at the £11m school.

UTC Leeds is unique because it partners with the University of Leeds and more than 60 employers across the region.

Employer partners and the University have helped develop the curriculum to ensure young people are excellently prepared for entry to employment or university.

Join next generation of Engineers and Scientists A dozen employers including Agfa Graphics, Siemens, Unilever and Sound Leisure will be on hand during the events on January 12 and 19. Students who started at UTC Leeds in September will give guided tours and explain how they’ve worked on live projects at partner companies during their first term.

Mark Kennedy, principal at the school which is sited within a rebuilt wing of the Braime Pressings factory on Hunslet Road, said the open evenings offered the opportunity for interested students to come and find out more.

“The UTC is Leeds’ newest school and offers a first-class educational experience through a range of academic and vocational qualifications in both new and core subjects.

“Attending the UTC gives young people the opportunity to build exciting and rewarding careers in engineering and industry. Leeds has a proud history of manufacturing and engineering and the UTC is helping future generations to gain and develop the skills they need to succeed in industry.

The UTC is situated close to Leeds City College Printworks campus, Leeds College of Building and the new Ruth Gorse Academy and is for pupils aged 14-18. The open evenings which run from 6pm to 7.30pm are for students entering Year 10 and Year 12 in September 2017.

For more information about UTC Leeds visit www.utcleeds.com and download a prospectus.

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Seven Good Reasons to Promote Your Brand at Leeds Bradford® Airport

Record of 3.5 million passengers in 2016 New airlines and destinations for 2017, expected to be our best year ever LBA’s business & leisure passengers wealthiest outside London 36 digital screens throughout the terminal Highest proportion of ABC1 passengers of any UK airport outside London LBA serves two of the UK’s fastest growing cities, Leeds and Bradford Multiple platforms available to suit every budget

Call us now on 0113 391 3293 Email us on advertising@lba.co.uk TopicUK_Leeds_Jan17_52pp.indd 34

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Advertorial

Get your 2017 promotion off to a flying start

Are you looking for somewhere different to advertise your business in 2017? Somewhere that will be seen by thousands of visitors every day? Then look no further than Leeds Bradford International Airport.

A

irport advertising is unique because of the ‘dwell time’ of passengers as they wait for their flights. In addition, because passengers are generally in a good mood because they are heading off on holiday, they are much more receptive to adverts and likely to spend more.

potential advertisers is ever growing. They also have a high proportion of business passengers too, because of our regular flights to most European cities.

“Leeds Bradford Airport, the fastest growing regional airport in the UK over the last five years, with a record 3.5 million passengers flying from the airport during 2015/16, has the highest proportion of ABC1 leisure passengers of any UK airport outside London,” Advertising Sales Manager Martin Hopkins told TopicUK, “therefore making them the most affluent.”

Martin, who was appointed in 2014 added: “I was recruited to head up a new in-house advertising team, which had been outsourced for many years. This has proved to be a huge success with rapid growth of the team and revenue exceeding expectations. We are working with so many companies, both large and small to promote their message to our 3.5m annual passengers and these companies are seeing some great results, with many of them returning with repeat business.”

Major terminal improvement works are currently taking place to improve both the facilities and experience of passengers and with new airlines and routes planned, 2017 is predicated to be their biggest year yet. This means that the audience for

The team are happy to give any company a no obligation tour of the advertising opportunities and if you would like to discuss possible options, call Martin on 07525 639454 or email him : martin. hopkins@lba.co.uk.

‘The LBA advertising team make time to talk to you about what you are trying to achieve with your advertising and where the best points of customer contact are within the airport itself, based on budget and brand. Friendly and informative we found them extremely easy to work with. We will definitely continue to work with LBA as it’s allowed us to raise our school profile within the Yorkshire area.’

Helen Lindenmayer, Admissions Manager, Silcoates School

‘Having dealt with several advertising teams previously, both in house and external, I found the LBA team, and Martin especially, to be an extremely personable contact who was open to talk about ideas he had that fit my requirements and more importantly to be flexible and look at any ideas I had that weren’t part of his current advertising space.

I’ll definitely be looking for future opportunities to advertise at LBA.’ Laura James, Area Manager Enterprise Car Hire

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RestaurantReview

Gaucho Situated in the heart of the city’s financial district, Gaucho Leeds offers a boutique dining experience, showcasing modern Argentine glamour.

Visiting Gaucho was Tracy Sheldon Managing Director of BRUG consultancy

My partner and I had a little difficulty finding this hidden gem as it’s in a discreet below ground position on Park Row, but once found never forgotten.

We received a warm and friendly welcome as soon as we stepped into the restaurant and offered pre-dinner drinks in the bar or we could go straight to the table. We opted for the bar first and were given an introduction to the staff and an array of drinks. I often question such attention when doing a review, but was happily surprised to see this warm welcome given to everyone.

We were settled in a comfy part of the small bar which had a contemporary modern feel but exuded comfort and warmth. The atmosphere was comfortable and relaxing and the service attentive without been overpowering.

I’m a foodie so will literally try anything at least once and I love to try new drinks but my partner is a plain eater, a nondrinker and loves his meat well done, so I was concerned we may give the staff a challenge but there was absolutely no problem with any request we made.

This is a place that could cover the romantic first date or the huddle of businessmen discussing the day’s stresses. The eclectic décor is soothing, modern but remains warm and comfortable with beautiful crystal lighting and cow hide splashes that calmly outline the core of this restaurant.

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To the food, where do I begin? At the bar, I was given a tall glass of Chandon, an Argentinian lighter bubbly from one of the three Argentinian wineries exclusive to Gaucho, I was pleasantly surprised, it stands its own ground firmly with a light refreshing hum and just enough bubble to give that champagne zing feel; It went especially well with the bar beef.

A sumptuous little platter of Argentinian chorizo, pastrami and cured beef; all tasty with any aperitif and not of the Spanish taste so something a little new to get the taste buds going.

Ben , our waiter explained that we could choose anything from the extensive menus on offer but we opted for the taster and relaxed in conversation till our table was ready. I noted a nice mix of music, none of that lift style blandness and not too loud that you can’t hold a conversation or be quite happy listening to if you are dining alone.

While sat in the bar we checked out the wine and drinks list – there is plenty of choice and some super new experiences exclusive to Gaucho and a few new twists on the standard cocktail range Mince Pie Manhattan or a Gingerbread Sour.

For a Monday night I was pleasantly surprised to see a good mix of people and a nice buzz about the place. We could see the open kitchen from our table and it had a calm sheen of ‘organised about it, confirmed by Head Chef Clinton when I said thank you at the end of our meal.

We were escorted to our table by Ben and handed over to our server for the evening Rob. Rob shared so much knowledge about the food we were served and answered all our questions effortlessly while still serving quickly and efficiently. I noted that all the tables received the same excellent service.

We were presented with a board of fine steak and all the names of the cuts and asked how we would prefer our meat. The obvious for me was rare to medium but my partner prefers well done.

The starters were diverse in texture and flavour, both exceptional on presentation and flavour combinations. A lovely basket of fresh bread accompanied the starters The Chorizo Sausage was firm and meaty with a strong opulent flavour

January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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of medallions Lomo, Ancho and Lomita de cuadril.

My partner opted for chunky chips and I went for the French beans with garlic and crumbled feta and salad (crisp and fresh with a light touch of balsamic).

All the cuts were beautiful, succulent and tender but we had our personal favourites. The top for me were the Chorizo and medallions for flavour and tenderness and my partner opted for the medallions and the entrana fina.

The accompanying sauces were perfect, béarnaise for me and pepper for my partner served in small copper pans so we could help ourselves.

Our steak was accompanied by a red wine exclusive to Gauchos, a heavier tougher red grape with a peppery after taste which complimented the steak cuts well but was a little too heavy for my palate Fabre Montmayou.

We definitely needed a rest after the main course and were given a break before dessert arrived, just when we were hankering something a little sweet.

flavours, my personal favourite being the Scallop tiraditos, delicate but bursting in flavour, the crayfish causita was rich but light and the Tuna cerviche strong and perfectly complimentary on a bed of crushed avocado. I enjoyed the diversity of texture and flavours with gentle use of the herbs and spices that complimented the ingredients and allowed the natural flavours to burst out. The starters were perfectly complimented by a glass of coke (how can you!) for my partner and a glass of Luigi Bosca 2015 for myself, light not too fruity and a very easy quaff.

complimented by the crushed chick peas with the smoky paprika, lime and coriander balancing out beautifully. The Seafood platter was a trio of delicate

We had just the right amount of time before our main course arrived, served on a wooden platter at perfect heat, the meat had rested beautifully and the cuts and flavours stunningly different. The platter consisted of the most popular cuts, Chorizo, Vacio, Entrana fina and trio

The dessert sample was a great choice, a hearty apple and Malbec crumble (ideal for my partner), a light and creamy banana mess and chocolate and praline mousse. The mousse was rich and deep flavoured with a hint of nut, while the light touch of fluffy cream, banana and meringue was delightful – and melted in the mouth. Everything accompanied by a trio of dessert wines, all perfectly matching and acceptable and a pleasant surprise as they are usually too sweet for me. We declined coffee but I have a feeling that would have been good too.

This is not necessarily an everyday of the week restaurant but certainly a weekly brunch or monthly place to dine to relax and just have great food. The menu selections cover brunches, lunches, dinner and young foodies. It’s a hidden gem we won’t forget in quite a while for excellent service, food and although not the cheapest definitely value for money.

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Health & WellbeingUpdate

New Year Resolutions, Goals & Ambitions Meet Health and Safety Coach Susan Dellanzo who will regularly contribute to our wellbeing

How many times have you set seemingly achievable New Year’s resolutions or goals, only to find yourself having broken them just days or weeks later? Have you ever wondered why this keeps happening?

Each year I get clients saying they want to lose weight, for example. I remember asking one lady “What would be the benefits if you did?” and she couldn’t come up with one! It’s a common issue and although many people say they want

this or that, when it comes down to it they haven’t linked enough reasons to actually achieving this or that. If you can’t come up with any legitimate reasons to do or get what you say you want, you’re living a fantasy expecting yourself to act or do something when you’re not in reality interested or inspired to do so. This is also where most people go crazy and where their self worth and self esteem spiral down together.

Whenever you expect yourself to do something you don’t actually feel inspired or have the “values” to do, you’ll appear to self defeat or “sabotage” yourself. and yet still on a waiting list….?

Then you’ll end up judging and criticising yourself rather than realising this so-called “negative” feedback is actually designed perfectly for you. It’s showing how you are either living outside your own “values”, expecting yourself W H Y W A I T A N Y L O N G E R ? to do what others say you “should” be Dedicated to empowering and making a qualitative difference doing, and/or you in the lives of my clients by imparting a depth of knowledge haven’t identified and skills in how to overcome adversity, reduce stress, resolve conflict, improve relationships, as well as optimising physical enough benefits to health, vitality and mental wellbeing. act according to your desires.

International Relationship, Health & Lifestyle Coach, Author & Speaker You are NOT a failure nor are you broken!

Tel : 07469 703816 For more information : On the contrary, you email : susan@susandellanzo.com are providing yourself

SUFFERING

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enormous feedback. Most people, however, think there is something wrong with them.

They then try and get rid of this feedback by trying to do personal development work on themselves which is futile and leads to insanity.

In addition, whenever you say you want to do something just to get away from a perceived “pain”, this is also pointless.

What you run from, you run into. Much wiser to first ask how the perceived “pain” is actually serving you and then make a better choice. And even if you still something as truly painful, if you still haven’t identified enough reasons and benefits to move towards its opposite, you will end up focusing more on your “pain” than your “pleasure”. Even though you say it’s painful I guarantee it will still be a lot more comfortable to stay there than to move towards that which you have no legitimate concise and clear plan to attain.

Make sure too that your resolutions, goals and ambitions aren’t just fantasies either.

I see this time and time again. “Fantasies” come with “nightmares”. Much wiser to make equilibrated choices from the start rather than ending up paying the dire consequences later which I have seen can be quite devastating for many.

If you are looking for help and are truly committed to getting rid of the “fantasy” and/or self defeating loops in order to achieve what you want, please do get in touch.

It’s amazing what you accomplish when you have the right motives.

January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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Young people facing barriers to employment Businesses across the region come together to inspire the next generation Research by the City & Guilds Group and Business in the Community (BITC) has revealed the challenges facing young people in Yorkshire and Humber with more than a third of young people viewing location as barrier to applying for a job.

The study, which looks at the challenges young people face in recruitment, also revealed that despite nine out of ten young people having some idea of the career they wanted to pursue, two fifths said a gruelling application process knocked their confidence.

Highlights from the survey of 4,000 18-24 year olds include:

A third of young people worry that they don’t have the right qualifications.

37% of young people in Yorkshire didn’t prepare for their last job interview.

A quarter said a negative experience made them less likely to apply for other jobs.

A fifth found job adverts difficult to understand.

29% found the overall experience difficult.

Asked what they value in a prospective workplace, only 13% of young people from Yorkshire said the most important thing

was additional benefits and perks.

In contrast, two fifths emphasised having opportunities to develop and further their career More than a third prioritised working with friendly and helpful colleagues and managers.

To help find a solution to the issues, Future Proof, a Business in the Community campaign, backed by City & Guilds Group, aims to encourage businesses in the region to start a conversation around how to communicate and recruit the future workforce.

In Leeds, this conversation began with Asda hosting a Future Proof Assembly for local businesses at their HQ. The event brought together over 50 local business leaders, stakeholders and HR professionals to explore how they can connect with Yorkshire’s future young talent.

Speaking about the findings, Chris Jones, Chief Executive of the City & Guilds Group, said: ‘‘Young people in Yorkshire face major barriers during the job application process. Of course, employers should challenge and test potential new employers, but their recruitment practices should also be inclusive. That means making sure assessment days, interviews or any part of the process are as accessible as possible.”

Grace Mehanna, Director of Youth Employment, Business in the Community,

said: ‘Through our Future Proof campaign, we want to build on some of the great work that has already been done by businesses here, working with them to open up opportunities for all young people. With the workplace changing, current recruitment practices don’t match the future workforce. As more young people enter the job market, employer’s recruitment processes need to catch up. From unnecessary work experience requirements to a lack of transparency, there are significant barriers in recruitment for young people.”

The survey also looked at young peoples’ approach to job seeking and found that three quarters of those in Yorkshire would search online, whilst a quarter would turn to Twitter, Facebook or other social media platforms. More traditional methods were not ruled out; with 23% also saying they would ask a friend of family member for help.

Charlie Field, Senior Director – People at Asda Stores Ltd., said: ‘We know that we have a wealth of talented young people in Yorkshire and Humber, who have the drive and ambition to be successful in their chosen career.

‘At Asda we are all about finding the right people for the right role and giving them an opportunity to show what they can do.

Our ethos is that we recruit for attitude and train for skill – this is an approach that benefits everyone, as we employ them for who they are, not for what they have or haven’t done in the past.”

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FashionUpdate

Your blazer is your best friend One of the most common misconceptions daunting today’s employed society is about appropriate workwear. People usually tend to associate work attire exclusively to suites and ties.

By Farah YAKINE Therefore, mainly because of this misapprehension, dressing up for the office has become a nightmare for the most of us. We all have different fashion styles, and not all of us are really keen on wearing ties and fully buttoned shirts.

But here’s the twist: you don’t have to.

paired with a t-shirt will take your casual look to a more formal office appropriate one. I know what you might be thinking: a blazer with a t-shirt look sounds like an oxymoron; and is certainly a controversial idea.

But it definitely is not. A t-shirt is admissible in a work environment, It’s just a matter of how to wear it.

Here, youth correspondent Farah Yakine, a fashion blogger shares some do’s and don’ts with TopicUK readers.

Dressing up for work: the second top four words that give you instant anxiety once spoken – the first four ones being evidently the oh-so-notorious: we need to talk.

However, dressing up for work shouldn’t be such a stress trigger. I get it. Saying it is unpleasant is an understatement.

The idea of a fully buttoned shirt is nerve-wrecking. A tie if you are a guy - no sexism intended – is even worse.

Nevertheless, I will be sharing with you certain loopholes within the office attire system, and tricks for dressing up to work that don’t involve fully buttoned shirts or ties.

Loophole lesson number 1: Your blazer is your best friend A blazer is a great wardrobe tool for dressing up and down an outfit. No shirt no problem! A simple blazer

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There are a few minor tricks to keep in mind: Slim fit: This is crucial for your t-shirt.

I am not saying wear a skin tight t-shirt as tight as a diving suit, but do not wear anything too lose or baggy either. It is perfectly acceptable to merge the casual with the formal as long as you respect certain regulations. You do not want to end up looking like the Slim Shady or some rapper at the office.

Neutral tones: always pick “office friendly” colors like black, grey, or navy blue. Keep it simple and neutral.

Nothing too heavy on the eyes. This applies to both blazer and t-shirt.

Do not make the colors clash, and opt for a subtle pairing to obtain a professional look.

No patterns: Never wear patterns or

cluttered designs for both t-shirt and blazer. Anything other than a simple minimalistic t-shirt or blazer will take away any sense of formality in your attire.

So here you have it, the great combination of a t-shirt and a blazer. Not such an oxymoron after all, is it? And aside from the great news that you don’t have to suffocate in a fully buttoned shirt or tie, this look is also time efficient.

You don’t have to go home and change your outfit if you want to grab a casual drink or dinner after work. Work life and post work life now don’t have to be two separate entities. With a bit of compromise and subtle tricks, you can manage to merge both, and pull off an effortlessly chic look without betraying your sense of style.

Farah Yaktine is a fashion blogger and until recently, personal journalist for the pop star Fleur East, a contestant from XFactor.

She is a graduate from the University of the Arts London, London College of Fashion.

She also holds a certificate in Fashion and Luxury Goods Management from the European School of Economics, Milan.

January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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project to get the hotel back to its original standard.

Lynda added: “It was hard work to restore the hotel after the flood damage.

It cost more than £1million and we had to work with our customers to rearrange event bookings and room reservations wherever possible.

“However, in March, we reopened our doors and welcomed our customers back. It’s been a tough journey but one that has shown the resilience and the dedication of the team.”

Crowne Plaza Leeds wins top industry accolade A Leeds city centre hotel that was devastated by unprecedented flooding a year ago has been presented with a prestigious industry award, in recognition of how its team dealt with and recovered from the crisis.

The Crowne Plaza, on Wellington Street, was badly hit by the floods on 26 December 2015, cutting the hotel’s power and leaving guests and staff stranded on site.

The team’s efforts on the night and in the months after have now been marked with a prestigious ‘Extra Mile’ award at the Hotel Cateys – a renowned industry event, hosted by The Caterer Magazine.

Lynda Coaley, general manager at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, said: “This award means so much to the hotel team. The floods were truly unprecedented and our guests and staff were faced with

spending the night here in darkness, as unfortunately it was too unsafe to leave.

Launched in 2007, the Hotel Cateys celebrate the most successful hotels, hoteliers and hotel employees across the UK. Gordon Jackson, chairman of the Leeds Hotel & Venues Association, said: “Having been so devastated by the flash floods over the Christmas period, I know that it must have taken a great deal of grit and determination to even begin the process of refurbishment.

“The team pulled together and handled the situation amazingly well and we’re pleased that local member hotels were able to support in the immediate aftermath and during the refurb, knowing they wouldn’t hesitate to do the same for anyone else. Completely deserved and huge congratulations to a truly inspirational team.”

“We had no power to the hotel and no methods of communicating other than mobile phones. However, our team rallied together and put our crisis plan into action immediately, providing guests with as much comfort as possible before moving them to another hotel when it was safe to do so.”

Nicholas Northam, managing director of Interstate Europe Hotels & Resorts in the UK – the hotel management company behind the Crowne Plaza Leeds, said: “This award is testimony to the outstanding work the team at the Crowne Plaza Leeds put in to get their hotel back up and running, after the devastation caused by the floods.

In the aftermath of the floods, with all of its IT infrastructure irreversibly damaged and much of its basement, ground floor and car park damaged significantly, the Crowne Plaza team then faced a two-month clean-up

“We’re very proud to count the hotel as one of our properties and would like to reiterate our congratulations to every member of the team there for winning this well-deserved award.”

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LeedsUpdate

YORKSHIRE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

YTL SYSTEMS

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t: 0844 847 0080 e: info@ytl.uk.com 11 Appleton Court, Calder Park, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF2 7AR

Yorkshire Telecommunications Limited 42

January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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Firm seeks to bring student scheme to Leeds Plans have been submitted to build a student accommodation rising up to 18 storeys high on land near the Merrion Centre in Leeds.

The project has been earmarked for land on the northern edge of the city centre bounded by St Alban’s Place to the north and Belgrave Street to the west.

Warehouse opened German Beirhalle for Christmas Amy HARRISON Youth Correspondent.

In December Leeds saw the arrival of the Grosse Wurst Bierhalle. Named after the traditional German cuisine, the event took over Warehouse from 16th November to 18th December.

The event brought together two German trademarks which Leeds has come to know and enjoy in recent years since German Christmas Markets began here in the UK: beer and hot dogs.

In addition, the Grosse Wurst Bierhalle offers a small selection of wines, cider, pretzels and more.

Although it’s a limited menu, this is just one of the ways the Grosse Wurst Bierhalle encapsulates the atmosphere of similar events in Germany. In Munich for example, locals are devoted to their favourite brewery, similar to Brits with our football teams. This means breweries at events like Oktoberfest have to have their own individual tent, resulting in the exclusive sale of their own beer.

Another way the Grosse Wurst Beirhalle offers Leeds the joys of German traditions is with entertainment from an authentic Oompah brass band. If there’s anything that makes you want to swing your stein of beer around like a lunatic while simultaneously singing at the top of your lungs and dancing on the tables, it’s an Oompah band. However, during the final hour and a half, the music changed to UK chart tracks, making this a perfect event for students to get amped up for a night out.

In total, it will be a part seven, part 11 and part 18-storey building comprising 376 self-contained apartments with a commercial unit on the ground floor. There will also be a reception, gym, laundry facilities and a movie room.

Planning documents submitted to Leeds City Council said the property would be aimed primarily at international students who ‘demand a much higher standard of serviced accommodation than is currently supplied by the student accommodation in Leeds’.

The student scheme has been designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, while Deloitte Real Estate is planning consultant.

Although Christmas 2017 seems far away now, the Grosse Wurst Beirhalle at Warehouse is definitely one to remember for your diary. So, until December 2017, Prost!

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BusinessProfile

IT support that ‘takes the Biscuit’ TopicUK caught up with our latest partner Biscuit, a new forward thinking Wakefield IT company, who provide a complete IT service and flexible office IT solutions for businesses and organisations throughout the UK.

T

his new business was set up following extensive market research by sister organisation Yorkshire Telecommunications Limited (YTL).

This research showed that there are IT companies and telecommunication companies, but very few who can provide a full service.

YTL launched in 1996 and provides

high end telecommunication systems to business. They have always provided IT support where needed, so launching Biscuit was a natural next step!

“When YTL install telephone systems for a new client, we work closely with their IT support team, so everything links seemlessly,” explained Managing Director Phill Burke. “If the team is on-site this is relatively easy, but where a remote IT company is used, it can create difficulties with communication, passwords etc. We have, on occasions, been booked and the client’s IT company have not shown up, so we have done all the work ourselves at no extra cost. By creating Biscuit, this solves that problem and gives us the opportunity of offering our client a complete package.

“This means a one-stop-shop for clients, they have only one company to deal with, so all their communication and IT

Dan Bell was unavailable for the TopicUK photoshoot as he was celebrating the birth of his new baby daughter, born 18 December. Congratulations Dan from the TopicTeam! systems are under one roof.”

The level of support Biscuit can provide is completely up to the client. Some of the companies they work with prefer to partly manage their IT systems in house where resources and expertise allow for this; others prefer Biscuit to ‘do everything’ - making IT one less thing for companies to manage so that their team can instead focus on business growth and development.

Biscuit will also work with clients to determine the most efficient approach for their team to support yours. It may be beneficial for Biscuit to work directly with your team on your premises, for them to provide remote IT support or for them to vary their approach, depending on the task in hand.

You may find that you only need support in a handful of these areas, or you may be looking for an IT partner to provide a fully managed IT service. Whatever your company’s needs, the services offered are flexible and the level of support they provide is completely up to you

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January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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Pictured: Phill Burke, Rachel Rowling, Steve Kirby - the biscuit team.

So what services can you expect from Biscuit?

24/7 Monitoring and management of your IT systems.

Remote technical assistance.

Proactive maintenance of IT hardware and equipment Network monitoring and management Network Security – antivirus, firewall deployment and maintenance.

“When it comes to security, it’s more common than you might imagine for organisations to lack a true understanding of the wide range of data they hold on file,” added Dan Bell, “and more importantly, of the potential repercussions should they fail to properly protect this data. At Biscuit, we can offer consultancy and support services around strategic planning and best practice for your peace of mind.”

Who has access to the data you hold on file

Email.

Microsoft application support Client/Server.

General IT management of users.

Hardware setup.

Server Installation Virtualisation.

Virtual IT Management.

Technical project management.

Training – for IT technicians/ managers or office staff. So what should you be aware of?

How the data was created How it is secured How long information will be kept on file How data is disposed of when it is no longer required.

Increasing use of multi-channel technology means that your company’s data may now be accessible across a range of devices from desktop computers and laptops to tablets and mobile phones, not all of which will be accessed

on site, as many employees now work from home or have access to their emails, work-related programmes and apps on the go.

Biscuit’s IT data security services will help your team to gain a full understanding of the data stored by your company, any potential risks to your data’s security and how to mitigate against potential security breaches.

As with all of their services, their approach is bespoke and will be tailored according to the specific needs of your business.

To find out more about Biscuit and the services they offer check out the website www.biscuit.uk.com.

That just left TopicUK asking one question, where does the name Biscuit come from? There were two reasons for the name I am informed: Biscu-IT (very clever) and of course, everyone likes a Biscuit don’t they?

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LeedsUpdate

Based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Biscuit provides a complete IT service and flexible office IT solutions for businesses and organisations throughout the UK.

Our IT Solutions services support your team in thinking about the bigger picture when it comes to your IT systems.

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hello@biscuit.uk.com 01924 241281

22/12/16 18:00

Partying in York Youth Correspondent, Gillian Thorpe shares with TopicUK readers, why York is a great place for a night out.

Now that the holiday season is behind us, we tend to switch our focus from mince pies and prosecco to things like detox shakes and gym memberships. On the flip side, you may be the type to skip that banana kale smoothie nonsense and keep that holiday spirit going into the New Year.

If you are, here’s a list of the best bars to visit in York. Whether you’re a student looking for a break from your studies or just a change in scenery, York can be a fantastic and convenient place to relax.

Best for cocktails Evil Eye Lounge, 42 Stonegate, YO1 8AS This self-proclaimed home of the bizarre, weird and wonderful won’t let you down.

Fronted as an off license, this unassuming bar will surprise you. Boasting a serious cocktail menu (hello… Green Fairy), it attracts people from all walks of life. Word on the street is that Johnny Depp has been here! The bar is colorful and reminiscent of a Thai beach bar. This isn’t for anyone looking for a quiet night as tables can be sticky, music is loud, and it gets packed during the weekend. If alcoholic drinks aren’t your thing, you can still enjoy one of their many mocktails, smoothies or deliciously warm hot chocolates…Please try the Swamp Candy, an insane mix of hot chocolate, Minstrels, Malteasers, marshmallows and cream. Bottoms up!

Prices-Average, but with any two £6.00 cocktails for £10.00 and any four £3.00 shots for £10.00, you can’t complain.

Best for music and real ale The Hop, 11-12 Fossgate YO1 9TA Located on trendy Fossgate, The Hop is easily one of the most popular bars in York. Taking pride in their award-winning ale, their selection is constantly being updated, and seasonal guest ales can be found on rotation. All the ale comes from

the local Ossett Brewery, and if you are looking for something light and citrusy, try a pint of White Rat. Just imagine yourself sipping on your carefully chosen ale, snacking on freshly-baked pizza, listening to a live band. Perfect.

Prices-Reasonable, it’s quality over quantity at The Hop, with fantastic pizzas and unreal ales.

Traditional Pub The King’s Arms, Kings Staith, YO1 9SN You can’t travel to York without visiting one of York’s many historical pubs – especially the King’s Arms. As it’s a Sam Smith’s pub, you can get the local Taddy lager for under £2.50 a pint! Score!

However, this world famous pub is known for something other than cheap beer.

You will notice there are no permanent fixtures or fancy rugs on the stone floor.

This is because it is located right on the Ouse River and floods nearly every year.

It’s also affectionately known as “The Pub That Floods”. There are markers on the doorframe that note the height and date of each flood. Despite the old man atmosphere, the river views are perfect, and on a sunny day, you can grab a seat on the outdoor benches for a pint. We say bring on the sunshine.

Prices: Brilliant, if you are on a budget, you can get some great poison for a small cost.

Evening Drinks Pavement Vaults, 2 Piccadilly, YO1 9NU Newly opened in 2015, this trendy restaurant bar is perfect for drinks and nibbles before a night out. It’s located smack dab in the centre of York and serves up delicious drinks, beers and high quality BBQ food. Head down the spiral staircase to the basement where you and friends can squish in the comfy

booths. You can snack on 12 hour smoked ox cheek and Yorkshire blue risotto while sipping on some of the fine and decently priced wines. If you are into beer, there is a huge selection of microbrewery options, including Magic Rock Salty Kiss Gooseberry Gose or perhaps the Beaverton Smog Rocket Smoked Porter will tickle your fancy?

Prices: Around £6.95 a cocktail, and pints range from £4.00 to £8.00, depends on your taste of beer and ale!

A Unique Experience Lendel Cellars, 26 Lendal. York YO1 8AA Have you ever had a drink in a cellar before? No? Well now you can. Located under a wrought iron banner, down a set of brick stairs you will enter upon a historic pub, which used to be the actual cellars of the Lord Mayor! It’s set under vaulted brick ceilings and one could only imagine how wealthy you would have to be to own a cellar this big! This bar offers a decent range of ales, beers, and wines, and it will offer a unique experience to watch the match come Saturday. To add to the experience, there is word that a friar may even haunt this bar! Spooky.

Prices: Cocktails are £6.99, and you and your buddies can split a pitcher for £12.99, or don’t split it, we don’t judge!

All in all, York is a beautiful place, with traditional architecture and some fantastic venues for food and drink. Even if you fancy a shopping trip, there are independent ‘hole-in-the-wall’ shops and of course your brands.

Trains to York run frequently, with some running between 12am and 3am.

Accommodation can be pricey when you’re a young person; remember to plan ahead, and if you do decide to stay, use hotel comparison sites to find the best deals and try to book in advance. There’s nothing worse than being stuck and having to spend your entire loan on a taxi home. Even subscribe to student deals, and you might get a bargain!

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TravelUpdate

SUBLIME Antigua and Barbuda

by Zeina Hechme Zeina M. Hechme is a freelance writer and translator, and a Senior Foreign Service Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Antigua and Barbuda. She holds a First Class Honours Bachelors in Creative Writing from the University of Leeds, a Masters in Latin American Area Studies from the University of London, and a post-

TopicUK_Leeds_Jan17_52pp.indd 48

graduate degree in Diplomacy from the Rio Branco Institute of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Zeina has lived in different countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Lebanon, the U.S., the U.K. and Brazil.

Her interests include literature, spirituality, and piano.

22/12/16 18:00

Imagine a tropical idyll of ivory shores, aquamarine waters and slow, radiant afternoons – it would probably look a lot like the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda.

I place my novel face down on my beach chair at Ffryes Beach, on the Southwestern coast of Antigua, and soak in the scenery: Children squeal and splash about in postcard-perfect waters; The craggy silhouette of Montserrat, the volcanic island, looms on a watery horizon. A pelican plunge-dives for lunch near a catamaran anchored half a mile offshore.

Two hours later, I’m sitting at ‘Dennis Cocktail Bar and Restaurant,’ the beach bar at the end of Ffryes, enjoying the inrushing trade winds, and a nearpsychedelic sunset. The hilltop beach bar is a great spot for a West Indian traditional dish, and an icy cocktail.

If you’re up for a local beer, ask for a Wadadli - the name given to the island by the seafaring Arawaks, long before Christopher Columbus renamed it “Santa Maria de la Antigua,” after a statue in a Seville Cathedral.

From the wooden veranda at Dennis,’ one can drink in views of placid, cerulean waters. You can also see a ruined stone sugar mill in the distance, which serves as a reminder of the days when sugar cane production and slavery dominated Antigua. Antigua’s sunbaked countryside is littered with 17th century bladeless sugar mills - most of them overgrown with vegetation. Apparently, there are around 110 of them on the island, including Betty’s Hope, a restored mill with a visitor’s center.

While Antigua is larger and more developed of the two islands, with around 90,000 inhabitants, an atmosphere of serenity prevails. Known for its crowdfree beaches, the stunning clarity of its seas, and a vibrant restaurant scene, Antigua is the quintessential tropical getaway. The island’s tranquil lifestyle has

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bewitched the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Giorgio Armani, and Eric Clapton, who all own vacation homes here.

Antigua’s little sister Barbuda offers travellers an even greater dose of island escapism, and is the best place to unplug in the Caribbean. With a population of around 1600 inhabitants, as well as laws preventing foreign ownership of land, the sleepy island of Barbuda has remained completely unspoilt.

Barbuda boasts a strong tradition of fishing, and is ringed with miles of empty, immaculate beaches for travellers to sink their toes into, some of which are even carpeted with pink sand. While Barbuda may not offer the relatively wide array of facilities and comforts as her more outgoing sibling Antigua (with the exception of two good hotels), the island has an authentic, ‘uncommercial’ feel that is something special.

Treasure Island: What to do in Antigua and Barbuda Whether you’re a history buff or just a plain, old rum lover, be sure to visit Nelson’s Dockyard National Park in English Harbour. The brick and coral stone Dockyard was once a strategic British naval base, and was named after the Hero of Trafalgar, Admiral Horatio Nelson, who lived in the Dockyard from 1784 to 1787.

Today, Nelson’s Dockyard is the world’s only Georgian-era shipyard, and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Dockyard is also the Caribbean’s major yachting hub, and a vibrant gathering spot for Sailing Week, Antigua’s world-famous, rum-fuelled regatta.

Other sights in English Harbour include the restored military look out, Shirley Heights, where visitors can party hard to the sounds of steel pan and soca over spectacular views, and Clarence House, which was built for the Duke of Clarence, the future King William IV, as a birthday gift.

A wonderful place for lunch and a stay-over in Antigua is Harmony Hall Boutique Hotel and Restaurant, which includes a renovated sugar mill, and an art gallery. After a sumptuous Italian lunch, walk down the dock, and take a dinghy-ride over to the nearby, uninhabited Green Island, where kite surfing abounds, and Hawksbill Sea Turtles can sometimes be spotted lazing on the surface of the sea.

Eat local and healthy: While Antigua is known as a relatively dry island, head to Fig Tree Drive, and find yourself suddenly amid rainforest. Stop at the fruit stall at the end of Fig Tree Drive for some Antiguan Black Pineapple, mangoes and starfruit.

In addition, whether you’re vegetarian, or simply in need of a rum punch detox, try One Stone Ital Shak, at their branch in St. John’s or in English Harbour. Meals are cooked in traditional clay pots, and are based upon the Rastafarian belief that food should increase one’s ‘Livity,’ or life energy.

Take a plane, ferry or catamaran over to Barbuda to see the Magnificent Frigate Birds – rare, black-plumed seabirds found in the Caribbean and in the Galapagos. Barbuda has one of the largest Frigate Bird Sanctuaries in the world, with around 5000 birds. Even if you aren’t an avid bird-watcher, you’ll enjoy the boat trip through the shimmering waters and mangroves of Codrington Lagoon, as well as the sights and sounds of the dramatic birds.

Investment Opportunities in Antigua and Barbuda: Antigua and Barbuda is one of the newer countries to offer a formal, structured Citizenship-by-Investment Program (CIP). The program is an appealing option for investors looking for a second citizenship. Approved CIP applicants can invest in desirable properties on the island, or contribute to the island’s National Development Fund (NDF).

22/12/16 18:00

LeedsUpdate

Next phase of £400m regeneration scheme

When sports rituals cross the line Amy HARRISON Youth Correspondent.

Plans have been unveiled for the next phase of a £400m regeneration scheme for Leeds that will include houses, commercial space and a new public square.

The Kirkstall Forge scheme, is a 56-acre plot of former industrial land located four miles from Leeds city centre.

Phase one of the project includes a sevenstorey office which is due to complete in August 2017 and will be home to Zenith, the leasing, fleet management and vehicle outsourcing business.

Phase two will incorporate 112 residential units made up of a mix of 96 houses and 16 apartments. The dwellings will range in height from three to six storeys. There will also be 20,500 sq ft of commercial space including shops, restaurants, cafés, bars, crèches and leisure.

In addition, a new area of public amenity space makes up part of phase two and will use the topography and natural features of the site.

Outline planning permission for the Kirkstall Forge scheme, which is also home to a railway station, was granted back in 2006.

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There’s something special about watching sports that can bring even the least sporty people together. Maybe it’s the walls that come down after a few pints or the incredible loyalty people from the most diverse walks of life can feel for a single team.

At the Leeds’ annual University Varsity Rugby game between Leeds Beckett and Leeds University, it may be the commitment students feel, not for just a team, but for their university; the place that helped make them who they are.

21 year old Leeds Beckett Student, Rachael Tate, has attended the last three Varsity matches and admits she has no interest in Rugby outside of the Varsity games. She says, “Although I love playing sports myself, I have little interest in rugby. The only reason I go to varsity is to enjoy the social side of it. There’s nothing like standing in the stadium with seven thousand others who are all hoping and cheering for the same thing.”

Sports teams and fans around the world all practice hope in their own unique way. For example, South Africa’s vuvuzela instrument, originally hand-made from tin, is now mass produced for football fans. New Zealand’s All Blacks famously intimidate their international opponents with the legendary Maori Haka dance and American baseballs players and fans are particularly known for having some of the oddest rituals. For example, wearing the same (never-been-washed!)

undershirt for every game.

Leeds Varsity’s token tradition is the chants. Getting caught up in the excitement, few people question where to draw the line. For example, why is it ok to shout, “you’re s*** and you know you are” repeatedly at a sports game but not the next day when walking down the street.

The answer is it shouldn’t be. It should never be fine to call strangers names. But the crazy atmosphere of varsity calls for it and the alcohol paired with fear being left out allows it to continue.

Rachael thinks, “It’s weird on one hand because you want to support your team but if you don’t chant certain words people assume you don’t support them. To an extent I think it’s ok to be unsupportive of the rival team, but people often go too far.”

The thing about sports is it doesn’t just bring people together, it provides hope and excitement that is unrivalled by any other part of our lives. But why should this give people grounds, in those moments of hope, to body shame the opposing cheerleaders and throw bottles of urine at innocent bystanders?

January 2017 - Leeds & district Edition

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Join the SXUH ÀEUH revolution Businesses in Leeds city centre are now accessing gigabit speed pure fibre internet connectivity, thanks to CityFibre’s completely independent network.

Ultra-fast upload and downloads: Speeds of up to 1000mbps enables you to fully embrace next-generation cloud services.

Future-proofed connectivity: Supporting your business now with quick and easy upgrades as your digital requirements evolve.

Responsive and resilient network: Allowing your business critical services run smoothly.

Find out more at cityfibre.com/Leeds Services available from

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22/12/16 18:00

Creating Inclusive Cultures (CIC) is a collaboration of established businesses in our major cities who understand the beneďŹ ts of investing in diversity and inclusion.

In our changing and competitive world CIC enables them to share insight and experience that will help everyone attract and retain the talent for the future success of their ďŹ rms and their cities.

TopicUK_Leeds_Jan17_52pp.indd 52

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